An equilibrium problem for the limiting eigenvalue distribution of rational Toeplitz matrices

We consider the asymptotic behavior of the eigenvalues of Toeplitz matrices with rational symbol as the size of the matrix goes to infinity. Our main result is that the weak limit of the normalized eigenvalue counting measure is a particular component of the unique solution to a vector equilibrium problem. Moreover, we show that the other components describe the limiting behavior of certain generalized eigenvalues. In this way, we generalize the recent results of Duits and Kuijlaars for banded Toeplitz matrices.Comment: 20 pages, 2 figure

Nonintersecting paths with a staircase initial condition

We consider an ensemble of $N$ discrete nonintersecting paths starting from equidistant points and ending at consecutive integers. Our first result is an explicit formula for the correlation kernel that allows us to analyze the process as $N\to \infty$. In that limit we obtain a new general class of kernels describing the local correlations close to the equidistant starting points. As the distance between the starting points goes to infinity, the correlation kernel converges to that of a single random walker. As the distance to the starting line increases, however, the local correlations converge to the sine kernel. Thus, this class interpolates between the sine kernel and an ensemble of independent particles. We also compute the scaled simultaneous limit, with both the distance between particles and the distance to the starting line going to infinity, and obtain a process with number variance saturation, previously studied by Johansson.Comment: 34 pages, 9 figures; reference added, Theorem 2.1 extended, typos correcte

The two periodic Aztec diamond and matrix valued orthogonal polynomials

We analyze domino tilings of the two-periodic Aztec diamond by means of matrix valued orthogonal polynomials that we obtain from a reformulation of the Aztec diamond as a non-intersecting path model with periodic transition matrices. In a more general framework we express the correlation kernel for the underlying determinantal point process as a double contour integral that contains the reproducing kernel of matrix valued orthogonal polynomials. We use the Riemann-Hilbert problem to simplify this formula for the case of the two-periodic Aztec diamond. In the large size limit we recover the three phases of the model known as solid, liquid and gas. We describe fine asymptotics for the gas phase and at the cusp points of the liquid-gas boundary, thereby complementing and extending results of Chhita and Johansson.Comment: 80 pages, 20 figures; This is an extended version of the paper that is accepted for publication in the Journal of the EM